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Tribe pleased with Chisenhall's rate of recovery

Tribe pleased with Chisenhall's rate of recovery

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Lonnie Chisenhall

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CLEVELAND -- Given the progress that Lonnie Chisenhall has made in his recovery from a fractured right forearm, the Indians are optimistic that the young third baseman will be back in their lineup before the season ends.

Indians manager Manny Acta indicated on Saturday that Chisenhall is scheduled to advance to hitting on the field for regular batting practice by Monday. The third baseman has already resumed hitting in the indoor cage and has been doing some fielding drills.

Chisenhall, 23, was struck on the forearm by an errant fastball from Orioles pitcher Troy Patton on June 29. The injury required surgery, sidelining Chisenhall just when he was starting to heat up for the Tribe.

Chisenhall hit .278 with three homers and nine RBIs in his 24 games with Cleveland from May 28-June 29, but he had hit .342 (13-for-38) in the 13 games leading up to the injury.

The Indians are hoping to have Chisenhall play in some rehab games before the end of the Minor League season, or at least during the Minor League postseason. Acta said Cleveland could also have him play in some simulated games if his recovery period lasts beyond the Minor League schedule.

"There's no timetable yet," Acta said. "He's got a program set out by our medical staff, and he's going to follow it. He's going to play a couple of games probably down there [in the Minors] before he comes up here."

Acta added that Chisenhall might also play winter ball to get more at-bats.

"He hasn't had enough at-bats this year," Acta said. "Even if he's ready to play two to three weeks here at the end, I think he'd benefit from [winter ball]. It's something that we have discussed with him already."